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2019 Emirates Australian Open Terms of Competition

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2019 EMIRATES AUSTRALIAN OPEN TERMS OF COMPETITION A. GENERAL 1. The Championship is scheduled to be played over 72 holes stroke play; 18 holes each on Thursday 5 December, Friday 6 November, Saturday 7 December, and Sunday 8 December 2019 at The Australian Golf Club. 2. 144 players will be eligible to compete comprising those exempt from Qualifying and successful competitors from Qualifying. The leading 60 professionals after 36 holes, plus any tying for 60th place, plus any amateur with an equivalent or better 36-hole total to the 60th placed professional, will qualify for the 3rd and 4th rounds; the remainder will be eliminated. In the event that the number of competitors qualifying for the 3rd and 4th rounds is such that the number of players in each group will not total the requisite figure, the Championship Play Committee reserves the right to appoint a playing marker, or markers. 3. In the event of a tie for the Championship after 72 holes, a play-off to produce a single winner must be conducted. Players in such a tie will continue over such holes as the Championship Play Committee will decide in a sudden-death, hole-by-hole play-off until the winner is determined. 4. In the event of play being either delayed or declared null and void for any round of the Championship or the play-off (if one is required), additional play beyond Sunday 8 December will be at the discretion of the Championship Play Committee. 5. The winner will receive the Championship Gold Medal and will hold the Stonehaven Cup for one year. The leading amateur in the Championship, unless they be the winner and given that they have completed the Championship, will receive the Championship Silver Medal. 6. (a) The Championship will be under the sole management and control of the Championship Play Committee which will comprise Golf Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Opens Tournament Director, Play Management & Regulations Senior Manager, and the PGA Tour of Australasia’s Director of Tournaments. In the absence of any members of the Championship Play Committee, such members of the Championship Play Committee who may be present at any time may give a decision, and any such decision will be deemed to be a decision made by the Championship Play Committee in its entirety. (b) In the case of both The Championship and any Pre-Qualifying Tournament, the Rules of Golf, as adopted by R&A Rules Limited, will apply together with the PGA of Australia “Hard Card” and such Local Rules as are approved by the Championship Play Committee. (c) Any decision of the Championship Play Committee will be final in all matters relating to the Championship. (d) The Championship Play Committee reserves the right to vary any term of this event. 7. The Model Local Rules relating to Conforming Driver Heads (MLR G-1), Conforming Ball List (MLR G-3) and The One Ball Rule (MLR G-4) are in effect. 8. Clubs Conforming with Groove and Punch Mark Specifications: Model Local Rule G-2 is in effect. There is no penalty under this Local Rule for carrying but not making a stroke with a club which does not conform to these groove and punch mark specifications. PENALTY FOR MAKING STROKE WITH CLUB IN BREACH OF THIS LOCAL RULE: Disqualification. NB. This is in effect for the Championship Proper Only (it is not in effect for Qualifying). 9. Distance Measuring Devices: For the Qualifying Rounds only, Rule 4.3a(1) of the Rules of Golf will apply. For the Championship proper, Rule 4.3a(1) is modified in the following way: During a round, a player must not obtain distance information by the use of an electronic distance measuring device. Penalty for breach of Rule 4.3a: See penalty statement in Rule 4.3 10. Prohibiting Use of Motorised Transportation: Model Local Rule G-6 is in effect and modifies Rule 4.3a(i) in this way: During a round a player or caddie must not ride on any form of motorised transportation except as authorised or later approved by the Rules Committee. (A player taking a stroke and distance penalty is always authorised). 11. All competitors are subject to drug testing by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency for banned substances as laid down in Golf Australia’s Anti-Doping Policy. Any competitor infringing this policy, or refusing to take a test, shall be disqualified and subject to any sanction(s) brought down by ASADA. A list of prohibited substances will be available at registration. Clarification of any medication can be obtained via the ASADA hotline – 13 000 ASADA (13 000 27232), or from www.asada.gov.au 12. Pace of Play: Pace of play guidelines will be laid down and strictly enforced (Rule 5.6b(3)). 13. During practice or during the Championship, a player or their caddie will not mark the course, or cause to have the course marked, to indicate, or to assist in gauging, course measurements. A player in breach of this condition may be disqualified. 14. Caddies must wear the caddie clothing provided. Competitors will at all times be liable for the actions of their caddies. A player whose caddie is in breach of this condition may be disqualified. 15. The Golf Australia Code of Conduct applies to all amateur competitors and their caddies. View the Code here: http://www.golf.org.au/championship-conditions-policies. 16. Golf Australia, PGA of Australia and Sponsors arrange publicity before and during the Championship in the Media, by live and recorded radio and television broadcasting, by filming, and in electronic form. The players assent to references to them and pictures of them in practice and play appearing and being used for commercial purposes by Golf Australia, PGA of Australia and its Sponsors. All rights for televising live, television recordings or for any visual or electronic reproduction of the Championship are reserved only to Golf Australia and PGA of Australia and may only be made under licence. B. ENTRIES 1. The Championship is open to all professional golfers (trainee professionals by Trainee Invite Only) – NB professionals do not need to be members of a PGA or PGA Tour; and amateur golfers who either have a GA Handicap (or other national union) of 2.0 strokes or less, or who are exempt from Qualifying. Amateurs must conform in all respects with the Rules of Amateur Status as adopted by R&A Rules Limited. NB Amateurs (excluding those exempt under Tournament Exemption Category D9) will be permitted to change the status of their entry from amateur to professional up until the end of the day immediately prior to Qualifying. 2. Entries close 5.00 pm (AEDT), 14 November 2019. IT IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ENTRANT TO ENSURE THEIR ENTRY IS LODGED PRIOR TO THE CLOSING TIME FOR ENTRIES THAT IS APPLICABLE TO THEM. A LIST OF AMATEUR ENTRIES WILL BE POSTED AT www.golf.org.au/ausopen. A PLAYER’S ENTRY HAS NOT OFFICIALLY BEEN LODGED UNTIL THEIR NAME HAS BEEN POSTED AT www.golf.org.au/ausopen. 3. Amateur entries will be accepted via the Golf Australia online entry system only (Click Here). Manual entries may be accepted at the discretion of Golf Australia. Payment will be made online using the PayPal gateway. PGA of Australia members MUST enter online via myPGA. All other professionals must enter online via the Non-Member entry page available online via the PGA website (Click Here). 4. The entry fee for Qualifying and the Championship Proper is AU$150.00 (includes GST). 5. (a) The Championship Play Committee reserves the right to accept late entries from invited players who are exempt from Qualifying for the Championship Proper up to 5.00 pm (AEDT) on Friday 29 November 2019, under special circumstances. (b) Under circumstances not covered by B.5(a), entries physically received after the respective closing time may still be accepted at the discretion of the Championship Play Committee. 6. Amateurs wishing to withdraw may do so by contacting GA to ensure a full refund. Professionals entered into qualifying and wishing to withdraw may do so in writing to [email protected] up until 5pm on Friday 29 November to ensure a full refund. 7. All entries will be subject to the approval of the Championship Play Committee, which reserves the right to accept or refuse any entry without giving reason for its decision which will be final. The Championship Play Committee may require independent certified evidence of the playing ability of entrants. C. QUALIFYING For those competitors NOT exempt directly into the Championship Proper, the qualifying procedure will be as follows: 1. Eight (8) spots will be available in the Championship Proper for non-exempt players. The 8 spots available to make up the field will be allocated on a pro rata basis between the three qualifying courses. 2. Three separate stroke play competitions of 18 holes each will be played on Monday 2 December 2019 at Glenmore Valley Golf Club, Ryde- Parramatta Golf Club and Carnarvon Golf Club. 3. Should the number of entries for Qualifying exceed the capacity, priority will be given to (in order): 1. PGA of Australasia Full Tournament Members (in order of date of entry); 2. PGA of Australia Full Vocational Members (based on most recent Final National Rankings, then order of entry); 3. PGA of Australia Affiliate Members (in order of date of entry); 4. PGA of Australia Senior Tournament Members (in order of date of entry); 5. Members of other recognised Tours (in order of date of entry); 6.
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